Ensuring individuals have a right to effective counsel when facing the loss of their basic human needs in the civil legal system.

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Hawaii

Categorical Right To Counsel
Discretionary Appointment Of Counsel
Right Or Appointment Is Qualified
No Such Proceeding
No Authorization, But Relevant Materials
Other
What do these terms mean?
Recent Activity
Right to Counsel Status
Categorical

Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Accused Parents

Litigation

Key Development
? While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is discretionary).
March 11, 2021
Supreme Court of Hawaii ruling strengthens parents’ right to counsel in child welfare cases
The Supreme Court of Hawaii has ruled that parents must be appointed counsel for all types of child welfare cases upon filing of the petition.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Yes
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.

The NCCRC identified the case and helped with the appeal and amicus briefing.

Key Development
? While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is discretionary).
January 6, 2014
Supreme Court of Hawaii says parents have right to counsel in abuse/TPR cases
The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that all parents have a constitutional right to counsel under the state's due process clause.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Yes
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.

NCCRC recruited the amici, co-drafted the amicus brief, and worked with petitioner on oral argument for T.M..

Legislation

Key Development
? While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is discretionary).
February 21, 2017
Legislation: timing of appointed counsel for parents
A bill would specify that parents are entitled to appointed counsel early in the child welfare process.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Doesn't Affect
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.

NCCRC has worked with the bill sponsor on drafting.

Doesn't Affect

Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Children

Legislation

March 4, 2025
HB900
Establishes a working group to improve family court processes including access to legal representation for youth in child protection proceedings.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Doesn't Affect
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
February 13, 2025
HB129
Prohibiting court from assessing fees for child's atty or GAL against their parent in truancy, delinquency, and abuse cases.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Doesn't Affect
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
April 10, 2025
SB1028
Prohibiting the court from assessing fees for a child's appointed attorney or GAL against their parent in truancy, delinquency, and abuse cases.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Doesn't Affect
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
February 14, 2025
SB1228
Establishes a working group to improve family court processes including access to legal representation for youth in child protection proceedings.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Doesn't Affect
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
Qualified

Custody Disputes - Children

Legislation

Key Development
? While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is discretionary).
July 11, 2017
Discretionary appointment of counsel for child in arbitrated custody dispute
In a custody arbitration, the arbitrator may appoint counsel for the child at the expense of the parents.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Discretionary
Qualified: Yes
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
Doesn't Affect

Housing - Evictions

Legislation

February 6, 2025
HB1324
The bill aims to increase funding for legal services for tenants.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Doesn't Affect
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
Categorical

Termination of Parental Rights (State) - Birth Parents

Litigation

Key Development
? While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is discretionary).
March 11, 2021
Supreme Court of Hawaii ruling strengthens parents’ right to counsel in child welfare cases
The Supreme Court of Hawaii has ruled that parents must be appointed counsel for all types of child welfare cases upon filing of the petition.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Yes
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.

The NCCRC identified the case and helped with the appeal and amicus briefing.

Key Development
? While a state may have many statutes, court decisions, or court rules governing appointment of counsel for a particular subject area, a "Key Development" is a statute/decision/rule that prevails over the others (example: a state high court decision finding a categorical right to counsel in guardianships cases takes precedence over a statute saying appointment in guardianship cases is discretionary).
January 6, 2014
Supreme Court of Hawaii says parents have right to counsel in abuse/TPR cases
The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that all parents have a constitutional right to counsel under the state's due process clause.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Yes
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.

NCCRC recruited the amici, co-drafted the amicus brief, and worked with petitioner on oral argument for T.M..

Doesn't Affect

Truancy - Petition Against Child

Legislation

February 13, 2025
HB129
Prohibiting court from assessing fees for child's atty or GAL against their parent in truancy, delinquency, and abuse cases.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Doesn't Affect
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
April 10, 2025
SB1028
Prohibiting the court from assessing fees for a child's appointed attorney or GAL against their parent in truancy, delinquency, and abuse cases.
Read More
Appointment of Counsel:  Doesn't Affect
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.
Categorical

Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Accused Parents

Discretionary

Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Children

Discretionary

Adult Protective Proceedings - Protected Person

Qualified

Benefits - Claimant

No Such Proceeding

Bypass of Parental Input into Abortion - Minor (Pre-Dobbs)

Categorical

Civil Commitment

Qualified

Custody Disputes - Children

Qualified

Guardianship/Conservatorship of Adults - Protected Person

Discretionary

Guardianship/Conservatorship of Children - Child (incomplete)

Qualified

Involuntary Medical Treatment (incomplete)

Qualified

Other subject area

Discretionary

Parentage - Defendant/Respondent

Discretionary

Parentage - Petitioner or Child

Qualified

Quarantine/Isolation

No Such Proceeding

Sexually Dangerous Persons - Commitment

Qualified

Sexually Dangerous Persons - Registration/Notification

Categorical

Termination of Parental Rights (State) - Birth Parents

Discretionary

Termination of Parental Rights (State) - Children

Discretionary

Truancy - Petition Against Child

© 2003-2024 National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel

The NCCRC works to advance the right to counsel for low-income people in civil cases involving basic human needs, such as housing, health, domestic violence, civil incarceration, and child custody.

About Us
Mission & Vision Our Team Our Work Funders & Supporters Contact
About Civil RTC
History CRTC Champions FAQ
News
Resource Library
Status Map Bibliographies Advocacy Tools Key Issue: Tenant RTC
Get Involved
Donate
Status Map